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Small business credit cards can be a great tool to manage spend and earn rewards points or cash back based on your business purchases. But when poor credit is involved, it can be tough qualify for a business credit card. Applying for a secured business credit cards that can help your business build good credit quickly. In most cases, we do not recommend secured business credit cards. But, if you’re set on getting one, here are the options for the best secured business credit cards of 2024.

Best secured business credit cards

Why trust our credit card experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

  • 55+ cards analyzed.
  • 4+ data points analyzed.
  • 5-step fact-checking process

Best all-around and for cash back

Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card

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The information for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card
BLUEPRINT RATING
Our ratings are based on specific use cases for each card. We compared this card to others in the same category and developed our rankings based on this criteria, along with our editorial input. Note that although we chose this card as the best in its category, the right card for you will depend on your own financial circumstances.

Welcome bonus

N/A

N/A

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

28.49% variable APR

Credit score

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

(0 – 649) Bad, Poor
Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase

Editor’s take

Pros
  • Unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases with flexible redemption options.
  • No annual fee.
  • Potential to transition to an unsecured card as overall credit score improves.
  • Choose your own credit line, based on the amount of money you put down as a security deposit.
Cons
  • Can’t transfer a balance to the card.
  • Minimum security deposit of $1,000.
It’s rare to find a secured business credit card, let alone one that earns cash back. For that reason, the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card should be at the top of your list if you’re a small business owner with some financial missteps in your past. Plus, once your credit improves, Bank of America may “graduate” your card to an unsecured version and return your security deposit to you.

Card details

  • Annual fee: $0.
  • Rewards: 1.5% cash back on purchases.
  • Welcome bonus: None.
  • APR: 28.49% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of 4% of each transaction applies.
  • Foreign transaction fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction.
  • Perks and benefits: Flexible rewards redemption options: deposit into checking or savings, as card statement credit, or a check mailed to you; potential to transition to an unsecured card if overall credit score improves, integration to cash flow management tools, including automatic payments, transfers, and the ability to download account data to QuickBooks, access to your business credit score.

Best for business management for Midwest residents

First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card

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The information for the First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card
BLUEPRINT RATING
Our ratings are based on specific use cases for each card. We compared this card to others in the same category and developed our rankings based on this criteria, along with our editorial input. Note that although we chose this card as the best in its category, the right card for you will depend on your own financial circumstances.

Welcome bonus

N/A

N/A

Annual fee

$39

Regular APR

25.99% variable

Credit score

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

(0 – 649) Bad, Poor
The Business Edition® Secured Visa® Credit Card does not offer rewards on purchases.

Editor’s take

Pros
  • Helpful business management tools, including expense tracking, spend monitoring, tax deduction tracking, tax preparation, and expense forecasting.
  • High maximum credit limit, up to $100,000, depending on the security deposit.
  • Discounts on accounting software.
Cons
  • Security deposit is 110% of the credit limit, unlike most secured cards where the security deposit equals your credit line. Gathering an extra 10% for the security deposit may be difficult for many small businesses.
  • Annual fee of $39.
  • Applications are limited to near FBNO branches, which are concentrated in the Midwest.
The First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition Secured Mastercard Credit Card come with business management perks, like proactive cash management tools and discounts on accounting software. But this card is only available near FNBO branches, which are concentrated in the Midwest, with the greatest number of locations in Nebraska.

Card details

  • Annual fee: $39.
  • Rewards: None.
  • Welcome bonus: None.
  • APR: 25.99% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies.
  • Perks and benefits: Business management tools, including expense tracking, spend monitoring, tax deduction tracking, tax preparation, and expense forecasting, mobile receipt management allowing cardholders to capture business receipts and reconcile against card spend, discounts on accounting software: Save 30% on QuickBooks for your first 12 months and get $20 off on Turbo Tax federal products.

Compare the best secured business credit cards

Best secured business credit cards of July 2024
Best all-around and for cash back: Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card *

The information for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Why this card made the list

The Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card * The information for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. is a good all-around secured business credit card, with no annual fee and 1.5% cash back on purchases. Once your credit improves, Bank of America may graduate your card to an unsecured credit card.

  • Annual fee: $0.
  • Rewards: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases.
  • Welcome bonus: None.
  • Other benefits and drawbacks: You pick your own credit line based on the amount of money you put down as a security deposit, beginning at $1,000.
Best for business management for Midwest residents: First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card *

The information for the First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Why this card made the list

A good option for Midwesterners looking for a secured business card that will help them manage their business while they grow their business credit score.

  • Annual fee: $39.
  • Rewards: None.
  • Welcome bonus: None.
  • Other benefits and drawbacks: Security deposit is 110% of the credit limit, unlike most secured cards where the security deposit equals your credit line. Gathering an extra 10% for the security deposit may be difficult for some small businesses.

Methodology

Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. There are only a few secured business credit cards on the market and we only found one of them to be available without any geographic restrictions.

What is a secured business credit card?

Secured business credit cards are a type of credit card designed to help businesses improve their credit score, similar to personal secured credit cards. One key feature of secured credit cards is that they require a business to put down a security deposit. The amount you deposit will be the basis for the credit line the bank offers you.

Should you get a secured business credit card?

Small businesses have credit scores, similar to personal credit scores, which can impact vendor terms, loan interest rates, and which business rewards credit cards you might qualify for. Eventually, as you pay your bills on time and don’t carry too much debt, that credit score will grow.

If your business or the business owner has poor credit, a secured business card can be a helpful tool to build a solid credit score for your business. 

However, there are a couple drawbacks to secured business credit cards that you should keep in mind. The largest hurdle is the security deposit. While the security deposit will help qualify you for a credit card, which will help build your credit, not all businesses can part with the cash, even temporarily.

The other hurdle to secured business credit cards is simply the lack of options. Of the secured business cards we could find, only one, from Bank of America, is available nationally. It’s a fine card, but in most cases you’d be better served by working on your own personal credit score. This would improve not only your own personal finances, but would also improve the perceived creditworthiness of your business in the eyes of lenders as well.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

You’ll apply for the secured business credit card either in a bank branch or online. The application form will ask some basic questions about your business. If approved, the bank will instruct you to make a security deposit, which will form the basis for the credit line made available to you.

Secured business credit cards are used just like any other credit card, either online or in person, for your business’ needs. Given that the credit lines of any secured business card are determined by the size of the security deposit you put down, you’ll need to be extra mindful of the available credit to make sure you don’t hit your credit limit.

The best alternative to a secured business credit card would be a personal secured credit card. Not only are there a lot more options to choose from, but working on your personal credit score has the double benefit of improving your own personal finances while also boosting the creditworthiness of your business.

We’re only aware of a small handful of secured business credit cards. Bank of America, and FNBO offer secured business credit cards. Of these, only the card from Bank of America is available nationwide, while FNBO’s card is only available for residents near an FNBO branch, which are located in the Midwest.

*The information for the Bank of America® Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card and First National Bank of Omaha Business Edition® Secured Mastercard® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Sean McQuay

BLUEPRINT

Sean McQuay is a long-time personal finance nerd. He’s passionate about budgets, credit cards, and earning useful rewards with minimal effort. He lives in the Seattle area and is a father to three rambunctious kids.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.